Fresh Perspective

Two summers ago, I spent a week at the Ultimate Training Camp in St. Paul, Minnesota. This week was truly the most incredible experience of my life. I was nervous about traveling alone to a camp with dedicated athletes from across the country. However, the Lord met me exactly where I was and surrounded me with incredible community.

Of course, going into the camp, I was excited for the relentless competition and the chance to push my physical limit, but what I found was so much more. UTC is intentionally designed to blend faith and athletics, meaning we didn’t just run drills, but we studied what it means to let our identity rest in Christ, not in our performance. At the end of the week, we applied the biblical principles we had learned to a 20-hour SPECIAL. This part was the most challenging workout I have ever completed, but ultimately taught me how to rely on the Lord’s strength above anything else.

Being surrounded by other college athletes who shared both my competitive fire and my faith allowed me to quickly build relationships that I will carry with me for many years. In small groups and intentional conversations, I learned the power of being in community with believers.

Throughout the week, my team and I celebrated wins, worked through losses, and prayed through moments of exhaustion. This camp didn’t just challenge my athletic ability, but it stretched my faith and reshaped how I view success. After UTC, I walked away carrying a fresh perspective on how to live and compete for an audience of One.

Jacqueline Brasseale | UTC Minnesota 2024